AN: Sorry for the wait! Things have kept me a little busy, and I got caught up contemplating how I wanted the story to go, and well... I'm sorry.:( On the bright side, I think this is my longest chapter so far, so you can enjoy a longer read then usual...hehehe...
Ah, lets just start!
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Oc's are mine! And mine alone!
Chapter 7
I dashed through the forest, bypassing the greenery with practice ease. The trees becoming blurs, flooding my vision for mere seconds before being replaced by their brethren. My ears twitched when the sound of the branches being disturbed resounded around me. I quickly tumbled down from the branches, dodging the Huge swinging log, that threatened to send me flying. 'Not this time.' Smirking to myself, I rolled across the the forest floor, before springing to my feet and resuming my sprint. Vaguely acknowledging the storm of arrows coming towards me, I quickly began to bob and weave throughout the vortex of pointy death. After the first couple weeks of my training runs around the castle perimeter, Granberia decided to up the difficulty a bit. Now I have to run through a forest riddled various death traps as fast as I could and for every time I received an injury, I had to run around the castle. Oh yeah and I still had to wear the weights. The first week of that was torture. Eventually though, I got the hang of it and my stamina and reaction times increased greatly. Granberia also commented that I gotten faster than before, which I was ecstatic about.
After dodging another log, two more arrow storms, beargirl traps and several other means of painful injury if not death, I came out of the forest and was greeted by my teacher with a smirk on her face.
"Good job Genko, you've certainly improved since we started." Granberia complimented.
I grinned at the praise. "I know right! I barely broke a sweat!" I'm not bragging, I was just excited by my progress, over the past couple of months.
"You've gotten faster too, I fear what would happen should you take off the weights. Combined that kind of speed with your increasing stamina, and you will be quite the opponent." She continued.
"I am awesome aren't I! I bet I could beat you in a race!" Okay, so maybe I was feeling myself a bit. Granberia just looked amused.
"Oh! Getting cocky are we? Although I don't doubt that you probably could." She admitted. I won't deny I was, but its partly her fault for saying things like that.
"Anyway come on your done with the running, time for your strength training." With that she walked away towards the castle. I groaned and followed reluctantly.
"Bloody Fissure Thunder Thrust!"
"Hrrgghh!" I grunted, my arms straining from the force of the blow.
"What the matter Genko! You not struggling are you!" Granberia roared at me, coming with another attack. I quickly jumped back, my movements hindered by the giant weapon I was holding. I then decided to go on the offensive and initiated a clash of blows with the Dragonewt. I hefted the large blade in my possession with two hands, because I couldn't possibly swing it with one even with the power of earth helping, and stepped forward with my right side while preparing to swing with my left I aimed at the Heavenly Knights neck and used the Cursed sword technique.
"Demon Decapitation!" I shouted and attempted to behead my mentor. Note 'attempted'.
"You call that an attack!" She easily blocked the attack and returned with one of her own. My arms buckled under the force and nearly tore the blade from my grasp. I struggled with the weight of Her sword bearing down own, before calling more power from the earth to my arms and managing to push her blade back with my own. I then directed the power to my foot an stomped near Her reptilian one. The ground caved in slightly where my foot impacted and threw the Fire Knight off balance. I then did the same thing near her other foot, effectively causing Granberia to fall backwards.
"Oh?" A brief flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes, and I took the chance. As quick as I could I pulled back my blade, and then thrusted it forward executing the 2nd Cursed sword technique.
"Bloody Fissure Thunder Thrust!"
I darted forward, confidant that I'd land a blow.
I was naive.
As I neared her falling form a smirk appeared on her lips and I realized my mistake too late. She quickly regained her footing, as if she never fell at all and easily sidestepped my thrust. I lost my balance and the swords weight sent me crashing to the ground...or it would've if not for the scaled knee that embedded itself in my gut. The sword was wrenched from my grip, and I was sent flying. I landed painfully on my backed and cradled my stomach, trying to regain the air that was forced from my lungs.
"That was a smart move but you should know better than to think I would be knocked over so easily."
Granberia scolded me.
Yep this is why I hate strength training. After I became somewhat comfortable wielding the heavy blade, Granberia decided it was time for me to spar while using it and boy is it tiring. Using the power of earth to just hold up the blade is hard enough. Maintaining the power while fighting with that is on a whole new level. On the bright side, Granberia doesn't go all out on me, limiting herself to only the basic techniques of the Cursed swords style. If she used the more advanced ones I'd be dead by now.
"Also your Demon decapitation was pretty sloppy, and that Bloody Fissure Thunder Thrust at the end was way too slow." Granberia continued.
My eye twitch at that.
I sat up with little trouble, all in all the hit knocked the wind out of me for sure but the earth enchantment lessened the blow.
"That's because of that freaking metal boulder with a hilt! The thing weighs too damn much! If I had my katanas the moves would've been executed perfectly!" I glared at said weapon laying on the ground. "Heavy piece of Centaur girl shit..." I muttered.
My mentor rose an eyebrow.
"You have quite a foul mouth when your angry you know that?"
"Sorry, I've had that problem since I was little." It was true, and with a friend like Rin around cursing each other out was a daily occurrence. When Tamamo wasn't around of course.
Her eyebrow stayed raised for a couple of seconds before her face turned serious. "Anyway stop complaining, a true swordsman would be able to execute a technique regardless of the blade their wielding. If you can use them as perfectly as you state then transferring that skill over to this "Heavy piece of Centaur girl shit." Would be child's play. Now get up! You've rested enough!"
"Uuu... Yes ma'am!" I rose to my feet and picked up the sword with no small amount of disdain. As soon as I did Granberia sprung into action.
"Prepare yourself!"
I sighed mentally and quickly put up my guard.
"Ha...ha...ha..." I was laying on the floor of the training room trying to catch my breath. Granberia made me spar with her for three hours, and my body was covered in cuts and bruises. Of course Granberia walked away with hardly a scratch and with the order that training was over for today. 'I can't feel my arms...' My body on the other hand, was terribly sore and I could hardly move.
"Looks like you had fun." A voice spoke.
"Huh?" I looked up from my position on the floor, and saw golden hair and amused emerald eyes.
"Tamamo? What are you doing here?" The kitsune leader pouted.
"What I can't see how my daughters doing?" She asked with faux hurt.
"No, I was just wondering, you haven't been around these days." I replied. It was true, the past couple of months we've been here at the castle, I'd hardly seen Tamamo at all, much less spoken with her.
The elder kitsune sighed.
"Haa... I've been busy. Aliphese's disappearance could cause turmoil, and as her advisor I had to step in to prevent it from happening." Tamamo explained, ears drooping slightly.
'She looks so... tired..' I thought worriedly.
"When I see that brat again she is going to get an earful about the importance of responsibility!" She roared, her previous state was replaced by an dark aura, as her eyes twitched madly.
'Nevermind...' I sweatdropped.
"Well are you doing anything now?" I inquired.
"Hmm?" She snapped out of her fit of rage and looked down at me.
"Oh not right this moment. I should have the rest of the day free." I beamed a tired grin.
"Then spend it with me! I'm finished with training for the day and we haven't bonded in a while,
So since we're both free lets hang out!"
She looked surprised at my proposal, before smiling softly.
"That sounds lovely Genko."
"Alright than let's go!" I pumped my fist in enthusiasm, still laying on the ground.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Tamamo?"
"Yes?"
"I uh... can'y really move in my condition." I confessed sheepishly.
"Well I'm not surprised, going for hours with a Heavenly Knight would leave anyone exhausted. All that sword thrusting left you feeling sore right?" She questioned with a sly smirk.
"W-Wha!?" I blushed at what she was implying.
"The whole could hear you two going at it! All the panting and banging ringing from this room, the scissoring clang of metal, bodies colliding, and the grunts of exertion, the musty smell of intense workout seeping through the door. Its no wonder you can't move your body must be aching from the hard pounding you endured." Tamamo continued with a devilish grin.
"I-I-I W-Wha- W-we didn't!" I stuttered out, my face redder than a tomato.
"Mou... all covered in sweat like that...your not pregnant are you?"
"OKAA-SAN STOP IT!" I pleaded. My mind was unconsciously going back to that night a couple of months ago. The way her clawed hands traversed my body...her firm but gently grip...'NO! BAD THOUGHTS!'
"Hehehe!" She giggled at me.
"Come now Genko, I was just teasing you, I know nothing happened." Her sly grin returned."Or did it?"
"NO! I'm not banging my teacher!"
Well...technically she banged me-'THAT IS NOT THE POINT!' I shouted mentally.
She laughed again holding her sides, as her body shook with amusement at my expense. I glared at my mother figure, but due to my surely red face it did not have the desired affect, considering as soon as she saw it her laughter doubled.
After Tamamo calmed down, he picked me up with her fluffy tails and began to walk out of the training room.
"He..he...Sorry your reactions are just too adorable...The look on your face...Ha!" She giggled.
"Whatever..." I muttered still red-faced. "Where are we going anyway?"
"Well as I told you before, your covered in sweat from head to toe. You smell a bit, so I'm taking you to my room to bathe." She replied.
"I smell?" I took a quick sniff.
"Yikes! I guess I didn't notice."
"That's understandable, you were still coming down from the adrenaline from your steamy session with Granberia." She chuckled.
"TAMAMO!"
"Sorry, Sorry!"
"Aaahhh..." Tamamo let out a content sigh, sinking into the warm bathwater.
"Enjoying yourself?" I walked into of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. I had regained some of my strength while Tamamo was carrying me, so I could walk on my own now. Everything stills hurts, but at least I can move. 'Thank the Monster Lord for monster blood.' I thought raising an eyebrow at the lake in the middle of the spacious room. It reminded me more of a hot springs rather than a bathtub. The roof opened up to reveal the night sky, and the bath was surrounded by stones of various shapes and sizes. It was such a stark contrast to the rest of the castle, not that I'm complaining, it reminded me of home. 'Speaking of home, I wonder how Rin's doing?'
"Oh course I am, these bones aren't what they use to be you know?" The heavenly knight replied.
"You got that right..." I muttered under my breath.
"What was that?" The room suddenly got colder.
"Nothing! Nothing! Your as youthful as they come!" I quickly remedied. 'Well you certainly look the youngest, but I'm not fooled. You look the same as when you took me in you old bat.' I would never articulate those words out loud however, because I like living, thank you very much.
"That's right and don't forget it!"
'Yeah sure, Grandma!' I was feeling a little vengeful after her constant teasing.
"Still though this is an impressive bath." I commented dropping my towel on the floor.
"Ho~ Nice body you got there Genko! That trainings really paying off!" Tamamo whistled.
"Who me?" I looked in the mirror, and my eyebrows rose. A girl of average height stared back at me with modest B-cup breast, slim waist, and a, in my opinion perky rump. My arms, abs, and especially my legs were well toned, but only barely gave off the impression of being slightly muscular. I was pleased with what I saw, but I had to wonder...
"Hey Tamamo?" I asked my mother figure.
"Hmm?"
"I've been wondering, why do my muscles not show even though I feel them being more developed than this?" I've been pondering that ever since I saw Granberia the first time. How was she so strong, when her body looked so slender.
"Oh, That. That's because of your monster-blood." She answered rising out of the water, and walking towards me.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I inquired.
She walked up behind me, her nine tails drooping slightly from being in the water, and made me sit in a small stool facing the mirror. Then she began to lather her hands with soap, before running them through my raven locks.
"You see Genko, a monsters appearance is a very important aspect that greatly effects their way of life. Depending on a monsters appearance, the monsters habitat, food habits, and even behavioral patterns are affected. For instance, a leechgirl's body is made for being able to traverse bodies of water, but Is poorly suited for movement on land. As such her methods of feeding requires her prey being near the water. With that being the case, depending on the area she lurks men could be scarce. And to be bluntly honest, a leechgirl's body is not the most desirable thing. Men won't be willing to give up their seed, which would led to the leechgirls more forceful personalities, which in turn makes humans more inclined to avoid them. So, to prepare for those situations they gained vore habits to preserve, and get more out of one meal in case it will be awhile before she gets another chance to." She elaborated, moving her hands from my hair to my tail.
"As for us Kitsune, we where never made to be too predatorily, (outside of the bedroom of course) so our appearances meant to entice our prey. As such, our bodies are meant to be attractive. Smooth, unblemished skin, delectable curves, and of course our oh so fluffy tails and ears, are all traits kitsune are expected to have. Even young Kitsune, show subtle curves and cuteness, to attract humans. That is the reason why your bulging muscles don't show outwardly, even though you possess them. The only species that can pull off the meaty bodybuilder look are minotauress, and even then their skin and pillowy breasts are considered to be soft as the clouds themselves."
That...makes a lot of sense actually.
"Huh...thats actually a huge relief! As much as I want to get stronger I don't want my body to be all buff and chiseled!" I laughed out.
"Well you don't have to worry about that, now close your eyes." Tamamo lifted a basin full of water and poured it all over my head and tail, rinsing out any soap left over in my hair.
"And your strength has increased significantly since you became Granberia's pupil. I'd say...your around 6-tailed level physically."
At hearing that my eyes sparkled.
"Really!? That means I'm only one step away from Nanabi-sama! Have I really grown that much!?"
It was a pretty big deal. The amount of tails you possess as a Kitsune reflects your power. The highest and amount of tails you can obtain is nine, an only the wisest and most powerful of the Kitsune can obtain nine tails. So far the has only been one nine-tail Kitsune in existence, as far as I'm aware of, and she is currently washing my hair.
"I'm awesom-OWCH!" I rubbed the growing bump on my head from where a purple fan struck it. She took it in the bath with her!?
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I said Physically, meaning in terms of body strength and ability you are of 6-tail material. However in terms of the spiritual aspect you are sorely lacking. Yes you can run magical energy through your body and by extension what your holding at the time, and maybe you can throw out a small blast or something, but that is it. Any Kitsune can do these things, regardless of the amount of tails they possess. If you'd but half as much as effort in magic as you do with those swords then you would truly be a six-tail." Ouch... But still I'm a six-tail! Even if only physically.
"But! Reaching six tails in any way is still a major accomplishment! In such a short time too! Before I left I was only a three tail in terms of strength!" I exclaimed.
"Yes that is true, but you've always been a bit of a prodigy. Just like your mother..." She spoke softly.
I paused in my celebration.
"Mother... Was a prodigy?" I asked quietly, looking down.
"Yes... She was. She reached eight tails when she was your age."
"Seriously!?" I looked up in shock.
Tamamo nodded. "She possessed incredible talent in the magic arts, and I never seen someone wield a naginata with such grace. She was very powerful." Wow... I knew mom was strong, but not that strong... If thats true then...
I opened my mouth to respond- "Oh? Is that true? Mother was a prodigy eh? I guess that title is thrown around loosely judging by how that woman's scythe so easily severed her head from her body." 'What the..!?' I felt a burning sensation along my neck, and a foreign presence in my mind.
"Genko?" Tamamo asked worriedly. 'I can't control my body!?'
"If she was really as strong as you
say, the how could she be killed so easily!?" I shouted, having no control over my body's actions. 'That is right... Give into your anger... Let it consume you... my pet.' A feminine voice resounded in my mind and I froze. 'That voice...!?' A pounding headache was forced onto me. Pain washed over me, as I lost control of my emotions.
"If she was such a prodigy why couldn't she beat that monster!? Why did she have to die!?" I continued, tears leaking freely, whether from the pain or grief I don't know. Probably both.
"I-I don't know Genko..." She looked shocked at my sudden outburst. I am too to be honest...
"Why not!?" I turned around and griped her by the shoulders, glaring my flooding blue eyes into her knowledgable green depths. The burning on my neck increased
as I watched as she regained her composure somewhat. She stared back at me with sadness.
"I don't know Genko. I only found you after the fact, wailing and broken at the bottom of the temple steps. The rest of the village was destroyed and you were the only survivor... I didn't know what occurred until you told me someone murdered your mother." She spoke calmly, regretfully, watching my movements carefully.
"Bullshit!" My body roared.
"Genko!?" Tamamo eyes widened, her calm persona shattered with my use of profanity.'Stop..'
"Your the damn Queen of the Kitsune! If a village under your command was in danger you should know about it!" 'Stop it!'
Tamamo recoiled as if I struck her.
I should of, it would hurt her less.
"I-I-" She stuttered out obviously shaken by the words.
"While you were off doing whatever your people were wiped out, Innocents loss their lives under you watch because of your incompetence! You failed your people!" More words of spite and hate spat out of my mouth without my consent. 'Stop it! Stop insulting her! It wasn't her fault!' I shouted mentally at the dark presence in my head. "Oh?, Isn't it though?" The voice spoke. "Is it not her duty to protect her people? Did she not fail at doing so, resulting in a whole village being destroyed? Or is she pardoned from such responsibility because of her hurt feelings?" The voice mocked.
'Shut up! She can't be everywhere at once! Now get...out of my head!' I groaned, trying to force the presence from my mind.
The voice chuckled. "Why are your defending her? Because she treated you as a daughter and you treated her a mother? Open your eyes! Your mother is dead, and its all this woman's fault."
'Shutupshutupshutup! Stop trying to pin the blame on her! If anyone is to blame its me for being so weak! Now get of my head dammit!' I yelled straining to force the presence from my mind.
"Ufufufu... Very well. I'll take my leave for now my pet... But you know I am correct." The voice giggled.
'Your wrong! And I'm not your damn pet!'
"Hehe...we'll see..." The voice whispered, and suddenly the burning on my neck increased, and the severity of my headache reached unimaginable heights.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" I howled in pain as the world went black.
...
...
Tamamo stared in horror as Genko let out painful scream before collapsing in a heap onto the bathroom floor.
"Genko!?" She shouted worriedly.
The Heavenly Knight scrambled over to the girl's prone form, checking her wrist for a pulse. Tamamo sighed in relief when she felt her pulse.
"She's only unconscious... What in the Monster Lord's name just happened?" She asked to anyone who had the answer.
'One moment she's fine, the next she is having a emotional breakdown and cursing my name... Not that I blame her... She is right after all...I failed my people...' The elder Kitsune thought sadly. She looked down at the tear stricken girls face and smiled regretfully.
"I'm sorry Genko... I let you and your mother down..." Her somber emerald eyes traveled downward towards the girl's neck and promptly narrowed, spotting the black tattoo around the girls neck and collarbone.
"That strange mark...it appeared when the outburst started...I've never noticed it until now..." Tamamo inspected the mark closely.
It was a series of detailed lines connected to a black heart shape that rested in the middle of her collarbone. In the middle of the heart was two intersecting scythes black as night. The design was symmetrical, and contrasted greatly against Genko's pale skin.
"It looks like a binding of some sort...hmm?" Tamamo watched as the tattoo began to fade away into
Genko's skin, leaving no trace of it existing in the first place.
"That is... a bit troubling... I'll have to look into this, it might have been the cause of her behavior earlier." She contemplated.
"But first..." The Nine-tailed Kitsune looked down at the completely bare and unbathed girl on the ground. She smiled tiredly at the sight.
"Lets get you washed up and put to bed shall we?"
...
...
"Huh? Your leaving why!?" I asked shocked.
After my episode the night before, I woke up my bed suffering from the phantom pain of the forced infiltration of my mental, with no clue how I got there in the first place. I assumed Tamamo carried me there after I blacked out, but when I woke up she was nowhere in sight. I went looking for her to apologize for the things I said, involuntary or not and couldn't find her anywhere. I asked some of the monsters in the castle and they said she left already. To where I do not know.
My mentor crossed her arms across her breastplate.
"An... ongoing issue has come up and needs to be dealt with and I will personally ensure that it is." She stated with an hint of annoyance in her tone.
"I...see. So while your out doing that what should I do? Train by myself?" I asked, thinking about how I'm going to start an intense regimen of sleeping, to heighten my sense of... Bodily... restoration through a uh, dormant state of being. Yeah that sounds right!
"No. You are coming with me." She spoke with a tone of finality, breaking my hope of a lazy day with no remorse whatsoever.
"Do I have to?" I whined. I was dead tired after that emotional ride last night and needed to rest.
"Not really. But I'm making you anyway." Granberia smirked, either failing to acknowledging my plight or simply not caring. My head hung low and my slave driver chuckled at my defeated expression
"Don't look so upset, You'll finally be able to prove the fruits of your training against other opponents."
"What? I will?" I asked surprised.
She nodded her head." Yes, you will."
"...What exactly are we going to be doing?" I asked a little skeptically.
A battle hungry grin formed on her face as she answered.
"To squash a couple of pests that call themselves "heroes."
END
Before you ask, yes those explanations on monster biology was me bullshitting to fit my needs, but hey. Its a fanfic, I'm allowed to bullshit from time to time.
Until next time!